Mae Hong Son
This clutch of ecofriendly, fan-cooled, TV-free, bamboo and wood bungalows is set in an expansive forested garden just outside town and has loads of…
Must-see hotels in Asia
Guilin
A former hostel, this attractive inn by the peaceful Taohua River (桃花江) has ditched the dorms to focus squarely on its boutique-style rooms. They feature…
West Sumatra
Run by young and energetic owners Ikbal and Noni, Abdi Homestay is the loveliest place to stay in the Harau Valley. Eight adorable thatched bungalows …
East Java
There's a real sense of history throughout this hotel, which is in a converted Dutch colonial building dating from the 1850s. The rooms in the principal…
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
Faults are hard to come by in this professionally run and extremely friendly business hotel. Classy and slightly old-fashioned rooms, in mint condition,…
Aomori Prefecture
Roughly 8km east of Hirosaki is your chance to go off the grid in style. Oil lamps (rampu) are used to light the corridors (though electricity has now…
North Goa
About five minutes’ walk back from Morjim Beach, Wanderers is a real find for budget travellers. The main building, decorated with original travellers'…
French Concession
Xintiandi has become a magnet for luxury hotels, and they don’t come much nicer than this one. Its 357 smart, stylish rooms all feature huge floor-to…
Nagarkot
This German-Nepalese–run guesthouse is the local centre for progressive travel, with a focus on sustainability, local crafts, organic dining and…
Chumphon
Only 4km from Chumphon, but deep in the countryside, Villa Varich is unlike any other Chumphon hotel. The large rooms, half sitting along the jungle-clad…
Jaisalmer
The undisputed king in this category, Suryagarh rises like a fortress beside the Sam road, 14km west of town. It’s a relatively new building in…
Kowloon
Return guests heap praise on this high-spec hotel with its luxurious rooms, complimentary minibar, sweeping harbour views and rooftop pool; it's the worst…
West Java
Not your average backpackers' beach shack, Ermaja's Pavilion is a stunningly converted colonial building set in landscaped gardens, where the rooms…
Fuji Five Lakes
Just about the only remaining Fuji oshi-no-ie (pilgrims' inn) you can still stay in. The young owner is both a carpenter (hence the lovingly restored 440…
Nukus
Exactly what a struggling backwater like Nukus needs – a well-run hotel with enthusiastic and responsive English-speaking staff to help you make onward…
Fukuoka
It's anyone's guess what the name means, but 'style' is indeed the byword at this sleek designer hotel. You could easily imagine yourself poolside in…
Thimphu
Set in carefully tended grounds high above Simtokha, the immaculate new Six Senses is effortlessly refined. There are no TVs in the graceful, timber…
French Concession
This chic B&B has five homey double rooms in a 1930s town house full of character. Some of the rooms are small, but each is decorated with style,…
Jalan Jaksa Area
You can't miss this building – it's covered in an enormous pink, white and black illustration. Eight Indonesian artists were each given one floor of this…
Mumbai (Bombay)
The Residency is the kind of dependable place where you can breathe a sigh of relief after a long journey and be certain you’ll be looked after well. It’s…
Western Bhutan
This beautiful lodge occupies a wonderfully restored farmhouse of just seven rooms sharing five showers and four separate toilets. It's much more…
Malang
The pick of Malang's backpackers is this friendly, centrally located hostel, opened in 2019 by a Dutch-Indonesian couple, both of whom are experienced in…
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Occupying a 100-year-old building revamped by two French architects, Villa Shanti puts an exquisitely contemporary twist on the French Quarter heritage…
Central Honshū
They hardly come more traditional than this inn split over three buildings, the oldest of which is the riverside 1936 No 1 Annexe. Guests have 24-hour use…
Tainan
This 140-year darling has a beautiful Chinese maple growing indoors through three floors, as well as terrazzo stairs, '60s furniture, and contemporary…
Haputale
Kelburne is a simply sublime spot to relax for a few days, with homely accommodation in immaculately renovated former tea-planters' bungalows and dapper…
Labuan Bajo
Set on its own 15-hectare island linked to Labuan Bajo by private boat, this resort offers delightful garden-ensconced cottages behind one of three white…
Jeollanam-do
This idyllic traditional hanok inn, built around a courtyard, is inside Duryunsan Provincial Park, about two-thirds of the way between the car park and…
Ranthambhore National Park
Set in 9 hectares of organic farmland and reforested jungle, this splendid ecolodge was created by the Singh Rathore family, the driving force behind the…
Varanasi
This meticulously renovated riverfront palace, built in 1812 and known as the Darbhanga Mahal, is simply exquisite. From the period chandeliers to the…
Puerto Princesa
A refreshing lobby equipped with public iMacs heralds that you are in one of Palawan's most sleek and stylish refuges. The bright, buoyant rooms are all…
Arugam Bay
A quirky, locally owned beachside place with loads of atmosphere and a loyal clientele of backpackers and surfers. There's a choice of 22 digs (all built…
Chitwan National Park
If you want a more traditional hotel, rather than a lodge, this is the best choice in the Sauraha area. The peaceful Green Park consists of several…
East Java
There couldn't be a greater contrast between the hellish landscapes of the Kawah Ijen crater and this boutique hotel, which snuggles away under banana and…
Tajikistan
With a fantastic view, warm hospitality, great food and classic Pamiri interiors, this homestay is one of the best in the Wakhan Valley. It's most…
Chengdu
Cool to its core, every room is hip and understated with elegant stylings and modern amenities that come together perfectly around a traditional-style…
Bhutan
This resort, 1.5km west of Trongsa, is an excellent choice, with 21 rooms constructed in five blocks on a terraced hill facing the dzong. All rooms are…
Perak
Stepping inside Banjaran Retreat, fish-filled water features and Grecian urns instantly establish the resort's sheer opulence. The spacious villas – some…
Varanasi
This old red-brick favourite has a pleasant, shaded courtyard as well as plenty of balcony space dotted around offering fine river views. Rooms are clean,…
Himachal Pradesh
Owned by urbane, local ski fanatics (including an Olympic hopeful for 2022), Iceland is Solang’s best hotel, with good pine-clad rooms, summer lawns and a…
